Transitional work

Transitional work is a work-site program that provides an interim step in the recovery for an injured worker with job restrictions resulting from a work-related injury. Transitional work uses real job duties for a specified period to gradually return the injured worker to the worker's original job.

Transitional work allows injured workers to return to work or remain at work performing physically appropriate transitional work duties in relationship to their functional capabilities. When considering transitional work duties, you need to work with the physician of record to determine the worker's restrictions and appropriate job tasks.

Transitional work programs

Eligible state-fund employers with an approved transitional work plan may receive a back-end bonus for using the plan to return injured workers back to work. Our Transitional Work Bonus Program offers a potential incentive of up to a 10-percent bonus for using an established transitional work program; applicable to claims within that bonus year of program participation.

Our Transitional Work Grant Program is designed to help you develop a transitional work program that's right for your business and your employees. Eligible state-fund employers with 11 or more employees, and having not received a transitional work grant from BWC in the past, can apply for funds to help them contract with a BWC-accredited transitional work developer to create a customized transitional work program.

Transitional work developers

All transitional work developers must be Ohio licensed vocational or medical case managers, physical or occupational therapists and hold an active BWC transitional work developer accreditation. BWC maintains a list of BWC-accredited transitional work developers.